Radiation leak higher at Japan's quake-hit nuclear plant

KASHIWAZAKI (AFP) - Radiation in water leaked from the world's largest nuclear plant after a major quake was 1.5 times higher than initially estimated, the operator said Wednesday.

Tokyo Electric Power Co., which operates the massive Kashiwazaki-Kariwa power plant, said however there remains no health risk from the leak.

TEPCO now puts radiation in the leaked water at 90,000 becquerels, up from the initially reported 60,000 becquerels.

"There was a mistake in calculating the radioactivity of water leaked into the sea," the company said in a statement.

"But the corrected radioactivity is also below the legal limits and does not affect the environment," it said.

The correction comes amid mounting public distrust in the nuclear power plant.

TEPCO has also said the plant suffered 50 operating faults in Monday's killer quake, including a fire, leakages of water and oil, misplaced duct pipes and broken equipment.

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